Program Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Biology requires successful completion of a minimum of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated courses; and (2) requirements in biological science, physical science, and mathematics as described below. Completion of a minor approved by both the major and the minor advisors is optional (see specific requirements below).
Mathematics Pathways: First-time, first-year students majoring in Biology enter the College Algebra Mathematics Pathway and must enroll in MATH 1390 during their first year of study, unless they have been awarded credit for MATH 1390.
Please note: Students must earn a C or higher grade in a biology core course before enrolling in a subsequent biology core course or biology elective that lists that core course as a prerequisite. Similar prerequisite requirements also exist for courses in other departments offering courses required for a BS degree in Biology.
Program Outline
Major in Biology (40-48 hours)
Biology Core Requirements:
- BIOL 1440 Principles of Biology I
- BIOL 1441 Principles of Biology II
- BIOL 2490 Genetics
- BIOL 3402 Cell Biology [UD UCA Core: C, I]
- BIOL 3403 General Ecology [UD UCA Core: I]
Other Required Courses:
- CHEM 1450 College Chemistry I
- CHEM 1451 College Chemistry II
- CHEM 2401 Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 3411 Organic Chemistry II
- PHYS 1410 College Physics I
- PHYS 1420 College Physics II
- MATH 1491 Calculus for the Life Sciences
- or
- MATH 1496 Calculus I
- MATH 2311 Elementary Statistics (or another approved elementary statistics course)
Biology Elective Requirements:
Major without a minor: 28 hours of electives chosen from the following courses, including a minimum of four (4) laboratory courses
Major with a minor or another major: 20 hours of electives chosen from the following courses, including a minimum of four (4) laboratory courses
- BIOL 3190 Economic Botany Lab
- BIOL 3305 Molecular Biology: Techniques and Controversies
- BIOL 3310 Neuroethology: The Neural Basis of Natural Behavior
- BIOL 3315 Women and Minorities in STEM [UD UCA Core: D]
- BIOL 3360 Introduction to Marine Biology
- BIOL 3370 Principles of Neuroscience
- BIOL 3390 Economic Botany
- BIOL 3410 Vertebrate Zoology
- BIOL 3420 General Microbiology
- BIOL 3470 Plant Biology
- BIOL 4195 Biology Capstone [UD UCA Core: Z]
- BIOL 4250 Scanning Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis
- BIOL 4311 Pathophysiology [Note 1]
- BIOL 4320 Human Neuroscience Methods
- BIOL 4330/5330 Cardiovascular Physiology
- BIOL 4340 Immunology
- BIOL 4443 Freshwater Ecology
- BIOL 4350 Current Topics in Cell Biology
- BIOL 4351 General Pharmacology [Note 1]
- BIOL 4360 Endocrinology
- BIOL 4370 Current Topics in Physiology
- BIOL 4400 Histology
- BIOL 4401 Invertebrate Zoology
- BIOL 4404 Plant Biodiversity
- BIOL 4405 Developmental Biology
- BIOL 4406/5406 Mammalogy
- BIOL 4407/5407 Ornithology
- BIOL 4410 Biology of Lower Plants and Fungi
- BIOL 4414 Molecular Mechanisms of Aging
- BIOL 4415 Mechanisms of Evolution
- BIOL 4418 Biology of Reptiles
- BIOL 4421 Pathogenic Microbiology [UD UCA Core: Z]
- BIOL 4425 Experimental Neurobiology [UD UCA Core: Z]
- BIOL 4430 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
- BIOL 4435 Animal Behavior [UD UCA Core: Z]
- BIOL 4440 Entomology
- BIOL 4442/5442 Restoration Ecology [UD UCA Core: Z]
- BIOL 4445 Biometry
- BIOL 4450 Plant Ecophysiology [UD UCA Core: Z]
- BIOL 4455 Ichthyology (Biology of Fishes)
- BIOL 4460 Animal Physiology
- BIOL 4461 Parasitology
- BIOL/ENVR 4465 Environmental Toxicology [UD UCA Core: Z]
- BIOL 4480 History of Life
- BIOL 4530 Experimental Molecular Biology
- BIOL 3V45 (1–4 credit hours) Internship [Note 2]
- BIOL 4V00 Field Studies in Biology
- BIOL 4V85 (1-3 credit hours) Undergraduate Research [UD UCA Core: Z] [Note 2] [Note 3]
- BIOL 4V90 (1-4 credit hours) Special Topics in Biology
- CHEM 4320/CHEM 4121 Biochemistry I and Lab
- ENVR 3410 Environmental Theory and Application [UD UCA Core: D, C]
- PHYS 3412 Introduction to Biophysics
Note 1
These courses require prerequisites not normally taken by UCA Biology majors.
Note 2
Up to four (4) hours may count as biology elective credit with departmental approval. For BIOL 4V85, up to three (3) hours can be earned during one semester (not all four); therefore, to earn all four hours, multiple semesters must be taken.
Note 3
At least two (2) hours of BIOL 4V85 are required to count for one (1) of the lab course requirements.
Minor in Biology (24 hours)
Minimum Requirements:
- BIOL 1440 Principles of Biology I
- BIOL 1441 Principles of Biology II
- BIOL 2490 Genetics
- BIOL 3402 Cell Biology [UD UCA Core: C, I]
- BIOL 3403 General Ecology [UD UCA Core: I]
Four elective hours chosen from the following:
- BIOL 2405 Human Anatomy and Physiology
- BIOL 2411 Microbiology in Human Affairs
- BIOL 2420 Histology for Health Sciences
- BIOL 3406 Structure and Function of the Human Body
- BIOL 3407 Structure and Function of the Human Body II
- BIOL 3370 Principles of Neuroscience
and all courses listed as electives for the major
Additional requirements include:
- CHEM 1450 College Chemistry I
- CHEM 1451 College Chemistry I
- CHEM 2401 Organic Chemistry I
- PHYS 1410 College Physics I
- PHYS 1420 College Physics II
